Roller bearing railway car axle and journal box assembly



1 8- R. E. HORGER 2,438,214

" ROLLER BEARING RAILWAY cm m2: AND JOURNAL BOX ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 23, 1948. RE. HORG-ER ROLLER BEARING RAILWAY GAR AXLE AND JOURNAL BOX ASSEMBLY Filed lay 22, 1944 wMarch 23, 1948-v R. E. HORGER RODLEH BEARING RAILWAY CAR AXLE AND JOURNAL BOX ASSEMBLY Filed May 22, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /A/l/EA TOR.'

I M HA5 #7- ToRA/E/S.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLER BEA RING RAILWAY CAR AXLE AND JOURNAL BOX ASSEMBLY Ralph E. Horger, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Timken Roller Bearing Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application. May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,669 Claims. (Cl. 308-180) This invention relates to roller bearing railway and journal box construction shown in the accar axle and journal box assemblies. It has for companying drawings comprises a standard its principal objects to provide for the application A. R. journal box A and a standard A. A. R. of rotary antifriction bearings to standard A. A. axle B that projects into said journal box through R. axle and journal box assemblies without mate- 5 the dust guard opening I in the inner end thereof rial alteration thereof; to provide a separate and is provided with a car wheel 2 inwardly of sealed oil containing cartridge for enclosing the said journal box. As shown in the drawings, the bearings and for retaining them on the axle: to journal box A is formed integral with the end of utilize the journal bearing retaining and thrust the truck side frame C and is provided with the lugs of the A. A. R. journal box for holding said usual lid 3 for-covering the access opening 3a-in cartridge on the axle and to transmit the end the outer end of said box and with theusual ,in-

thrust of the axle through the bearings; to perterior side wall journal bearing retaining and mlt endwise engagement and disengagement of thrust lugs 4 that extend a short distance downsaid journal box and axle with the bearing conwardly from the top of said box. The present taining cartridge mounted on the latter; to proconstruction dispenses with the usual plain jourvide for proper circulation of the oil in the nal bearing, journal box wedge and dust guard; cartridge; to provide access to the cartridge and the only changes required in the journal box through the opening in the outer end of the jour- A and the axle B are to increase the size of the nal box for filling the cartridge with oil and for axle receiving opening I in the inner end of said gauging the depth of the oil in the cartridge; and journal box and to reshape the journal portion of to attain other advantages hereinafter appearing. said axle, both of these operations being com- The invention consists in the rotary antifriction paratively simple machining operations. The rebearing axle and journal box assembly and in the shaped journal portion of the axle B comprises method of altering standard A. A. R. axles and a cylindrical outer end portion 5, a cylindrical journal boxes to facilitate the substitution of inner end portion 6 of larger diameter, a tapered rotary antifriction bearings for the plain journal portion 1 connecting said cylindrical portions,

bearings heretofore used with such axle box and and a tapered shoulder 8 at the inner end of said journal box assemblies. cylindrical inner end portion.

In the accompanying drawings, which form The rotary antifriction bearing construction part of this specification and wherein like symbols for the above slightly modified A. A. R. axle and refer to like parts wherever they occur, journal box assembly comprises two axially Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section spaced taper roller bearings enclosed in a tubular through a roller bearing railway car axle and non-rotary oil containing housing or cartridge 9, journal box construction embodying my inventhe innermost bearing being of larger diameter tion, the journal box being shown integral with than the outermost bearing. Each of these roller one end of atruck side frame, bearings comprises a cone -or inner raceway Fig. 2 is a central horizontal section on the line member ID mounted on the cylindrical portion 5 2-2 in Fig. 1, or 6 of the axle B. a tapered cup or outer raceway Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the member i l seated in the cartridge, and a series line 33 in Fig. 1, the dot-and-dash lines inof conical bearing rollers I2 interposed between dicating the original size and shape of the dust said cone and cup. As shown in the drawings. guard opening in the inner end of the journal the rollers i 2 of the two bearings taper toward box, I each other, the cones ID are spaced apart by Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the means of a conical sleeve IS on the axle B and line 44 in Fig. 1, the large or opposing ends of the cups H are dis- Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the posed in endwise abutting relation to internal line 5-5 in Fig. 1, annular shoulders i4 provided therefor in the Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the cartridge 9.

li 6 8 i Fig, 1, A cone backing ring i5 is sleeved on the axle Fig 7 is a fragmentary cross gectjonal iew on B in endwise abutting relation \JCJ the inner end the line 1 1 in Fig, 4; nd of the cone ID of the innermost bearing and has Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the axle, the the inner end portion of its bore flared to seat dot-and-dash lines indicating the original size against the tapered shoulder portion 8 of the and shape of the journal portion of the axle. axle. The bearing cones i0. spacing sleeve 13 The rotary antifriction bearing railway axle and backing ring i5 are held on the axle B in endwise abutting relation to one another. with said backing ring seated against the shoulder 8 on said axle, by means or a circular plate is which is removably secured to the axle by means of cap screws ll. The axle B has a reduced outer end portion i8 that extends slightly beyond the outer end of the outermost bearing cone ill and is adapted to snugly receive and support an annular rib is which is formed on the inner face of said plate and bears endwise against the outer end of said cone. The outer end of the bearing cartridge 9 is closed by means of a closure plate 20 that is removably secured to said end of said cartridge by means of cap screws 2|. The closure plate 20 is offset outwardly, as at 22, inwardly of its peripheral margin so as to clear the heads of the retaining screws 2i for the plate. The end convexly curved surface. The bearing cartridge 9 also has external vertical channels 35 in the side walls thereof adapted for cooperation with the journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs 4 in thesides o! the A. A. R. journal box A so as to prevent endwise separation of the journal box and axle and limit relative axial movement thereof. By this arrangement, the front faces of the I lugs to limit the outward axial movement of the axle-cartridge assembly and to transmit the end oi the bearing cartridge 9 terminates at its upper closure plate has an annular pilot flange: 23 i at its inner end that snugly fits within the 'cartridge 9. Escape of oil from and entry of dust into the inner end of the bearing cartridge 9 is prevented by means of an annular end closure plate or ring that is clamped flatwise against the inner end face of said cartridge by means of cap screws 25 and encircles the outer end of the cone backing ring i 5. The end \closure ring 24 has an annular pilot flange 26 on its inner face that snugly fits within the inner end or the cartridge 9; and saidend closure ring and the cone backing ring i 5 have cooperating annular rib and groove portions on their opposing end faces that form a labyrinth type running clearance space 21 therebetween.

As shown in the drawings, oil is supplied to the lower portion of they cartridge 8 for lubricating the bearings therein through an upright oil filler tube 28 which is provided at its upper end with a hinged cap or closure 29. The end closure plate 20 has a hollow outstanding ledge portion 30 adjacent to the lower end thereof forming an oil chamber or passageway 3i therein that opens into the lower portion of the cartridge 9. The oil filler tube 28 is supportedon the ledge 30 of the cover plate 20 and opens downwardly into the oilchamber or passageway 3i in said ledge. The level of the chamber 3i is such that appearance of oil therein indicates that there is suflicient oil in the cartridge -9 to properly 1ubricate the bearings therein, while lack of oil in said chamber indinermost cup supportin portion into the inner end oi the cartridge. The retaining plate is extends below the level of the oil filling and checking chamber 30 and has a notched peripheral flange as adapted to pick up oil and fling it into a longitudinal recess or groove 34 which is formed in the cartridge above the cup of the outermost bearing and serves to convey the oil to the small or inner ends of the rollers of said bearing. Some of the oil from the groove 34 is deposited on the small end of the tapered cone spacer i3 and flows upwardly along said spacer and is delivered to the small ends of the rollers 0f the innermost bearing.

As shown in the drawings. the upper surface of the cartridge 9 is longitudinally curved after the manner of a standard A. A. R. journal box wedge and the top of the journal box A seats on this end below the level of the upper'end of the inside wall of said channel, and the depth of the enlarged dust guard opening i in theinner end wall of the journal box A is such that the journal box may be lifted off the cartridge far enough to bring the lower ends of the journal bearing retaining lugs 4 above the level of the upper end of the outer side walls of the channels in the bearing cartridge, thereby permitting endwise assembly and disassembly of the journal box and axle-cartridge. As shown in the drawings, the bottoms of the vertical channels 35 are provided, with raised pad portions 36 that abut fiatwise against the opposing facesof the journal bearing retaining lugs 4 so as to retain the cartridge in the journal box in an upright position.

The hereinbefore described roller bearing axle and journal box assembly has numerous advantages. It enables roller bearings to be-substituted for the plain journal bearings of standard A. A. R. axles and journal boxes with the least possible alteration of the axle and journal box, the only changes required being the comparatively simple machine operations for enla'rging the dust guard opening i in the inner end of the journal box and for changing the shape of the journal portion ofthe axle. They present construction utilizes the journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs 4 to prevent endwise separation of the axle and journal box in the operative position thereof it also transmits. the end thrust of the axle through the large innermost roller bearing; and it also permits endwise assembly and disassembly of the axle-cartridge and journalbox when the lower ends of the journal box lugs are located above the level of the upper ends of the outer, walls of the vertical channels in the sides of the bearing cartridge 9. The bearing cartridge 9 may be easily supplied with oil through the filler tube 28 at the outer end of said cartridge; and the oil level may be checked by inserting a finger through said tube Proper lubrication isprov into the chamber 3i. vided for the roller bearings; and said bearings are protected by the cartridge which, in turn,

is protected by the journal box. The increased size of the dust guard opening permits thecartridge to be made deep enough to provide an oil reservoir therein; and it also enables the walls of the cartridge to be made thick enough to accommodate tapped holes for the retaining screws for the end closure plate and the end closure ring.

The above roller bearing axle and journalbox construction is assembled by mounting the cone backing ring IS on the machine modified journal portion of the axle B in abutting relation to the tapered shoulder 8 thereon, then assembling the inner and outer bearings and spacing sleeve i3 in the cartridge 9 and securing the rear closure ring thereto, and then pressing the assembly on the axle. The combination oil fiinger and retainer plate i6 is then secured by means of the cap screws H to the end of the axle in abutting relation to the outer end of the cone I of the outermost roller bearing. The end closure member 20 is then secured by the cap screws 2| ,to the outer end of the cartridge 9,, thereby completing the axle-cartridge assembly. The journal box A'with the machine modified dust guard opening I at the inner end thereof is then slipped over the axle-cartridge assembly, the journal box being lifted far enough to bring the lower ends of the lugs 4 in the journal box above the level of the lower ends of the front walls of the vertical channels 35 in the cartridge so as to permit such endwise assembly of the axle and journal box, the increase in the vertical dimension of said opening being suflicient to permit the journal box to be raised to the proper height. The assembly is then completed by lowering the journal box, thereby causing the lugs 4 thereof to enter the channels 35 of the bearing cartridge 9 and thus lock the journal box and cartridge together against endwise separation and against relative rotary movement. The parts are disassembled by lifting the journal box to bring the bottoms of the lugs 4 thereof above the level of the tops of the outer walls of the vertical channels 35 in the bearing cartridge 9 and then pulling the journal box forward to slide off said cartridge. The front closure-20 and the flinger iii are then removed, after which the entire hearing cartridge assembly is stripped off the axle by placing a suitable pulling device at the back face of the cone backing ring l5.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described roller bearing axle and journal box assembly admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A railway roller bearing axle and journal box assembly comprising a. conventional onepiece plain bearing journal box having an enlarged dust guard opening in the inner end thereof and the usual interior journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs in the side walls thereof, an axle having a journal portion extending into said journal box through said opening-two axially spaced roller bearings mounted on the journal portion of said axle, and a sealed lubricant containing housing for said bearings and supporting said journal box from the top thereof, said housing having vertical channels in the exterior side faces thereof in which are received said lugs. there being a clearance between the housing and the bottom of the journal box large enough to permit relative vertical movement of said journal box and housing to engage and disengage said journal box lugs and said housing channels and said opening being large enough to permit passage of said housing through said opening,

2. A railway roller bearing axle and journal box assembly comprising a conventional onepiece plain bearing journal box having an enlarged dust guard opening in the inner end thereof and the usual interior journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs in the side walls thereof, an axle having a journal portion extending into said journal box through said opening, a rotary antifriction bearing mounted on the journal portion of said axle, and a housing for said bearing andsupporting said journal box from the top thereof, said housing having outstanding shoulders on the exterior side faces thereof disposed longitudinally inwardly of said lugs in abutting relation thereto, there being a clearancebetween the housing and the bottom of the journal box large enough to permit relative vertical jmovement of said journaljbox and housing to move said shoulders and lugs into and out of such abutting relation and said opening being large enough to permit passage of said housing through said opening.

3. A railway roller bearing axle and journal box assembly comprising a conventional onepiece plain bearing journal box-having an enlarged dust guard opening in the inner end thereof and the usual interior journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs in the side walls thereof, an axle having a journal portion extending into said journal box-through said opening, rotary antifriction bearings mounted on the journal portion of said axle, and a housing for said bearings and supporting said journal box from the top thereof, said housing having vertical channels in the exterior side faces thereof in which are received said lugs, there being a clearance between the housing and the bottom of the journal box large enough to permit relative vertical movement of said journal box and housing to engage and disengage said lugs and said housing channels and said opening being large enough to permit passage of said housing through said opening.

4. A railway roller bearing axle and journal box assembly comprising a conventional onepiece plain bearing journal box having an enlarged dust guard opening in the inner end thereof and the usual interior journal bearing retaining and thrust lugs in the side walls thereof, an axle having a journal portion extending into said journal box through said opening, rotary antifriction bearings mounted on the journal portion of said axle, and a housing for said bearings and supporting said journal box from the top thereof, said housing havin vertical channels in the exterior side faces thereof in which are'received said lugs, the innermost side walls of said chan nels extending above the level of the tops of the outermost side walls thereof, there being a. clearance between the housing and the bottom of the journal box large enough to permit the relative vertical movement of said journal box and housing required to bring the bottoms of said lugs above the level of the top of said outermost side walls of said channel and said opening being large enough to permit endwise assembly and disassembly of said journal box and housing through said opening.

5. A railway roller bearing axle and journal box assembly comprising a conventional one-- piece plain bearing journal box having an enlarged dust guard opening in the inner end thereof. the usual covered accessppening in the outer end thereof and the usual interior journal hearing retaining and thrust lugs in the side walls thereof, an axle having a journal portion extending into said journal box through said enlarged opening, rotary antifriction bearings mounted on the journal portion of said axle, and an oil coniaining housing for said bearings and supporting said journal box from the top thereof, said housing having vertical channels in the exterior side i aces thereof in which are received said lugs, there being a clearance'between the housing and the bottom of the journal box large enough to permit relative vertical movement of said-journal box and housingto awake and disengage said lugs and channelsand said opening being large enough to permit endwise assembly and .disassembiy of said journal box. and housing through said opening, said housing having a hollow forwardly projecting ledge portion at the lower portion of its outer end, said ledge portion having'an oil filler and inspection opening therein to which access may be had through the access opening The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pitt Aug. 16, 1927 Buckwalter Mar. 4, 1930 Buckwalter Mar, 4, 1930 Buckwalter Apr. 8, 1930 Scribner Aug. 26; 1930 Young May 23, 1933 Horger Aug. 8, 1933 Horger Aug. 8, 1933 Buckwalter June 4, 1935 Scribner May 13,1941 Rudd -1 Oct. 28, 1941 Buckwalter Feb. 24, 1942 Scribner Feb. 24, 1942 

